A bomb blast in a bus killed three civilians Sunday in the northern Syrian city of Afrin on the first anniversary of a Turkish attack on the Kurdish-majority region, a war monitor said. Nine other people, including fighters, were wounded in the explosion, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP. Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March last year after a two-month air and ground offensive.

Forensic experts filled body bags with charred human remains in the field where the explosion occurred on Friday evening by the town of Tlahuelilpan in the state of Hidalgo, in one of the deadliest incidents to hit Mexico's troubled oil infrastructure in years. A number of people at the scene told Reuters that local shortages in gasoline supply since Lopez Obrador launched a drive to stamp out fuel theft had encouraged the rush to the gushing pipeline. "Everyone came to see if they could get a bit of gasoline for their car, there isn't any in the gas stations," said farmer Isaias Garcia, 50.

BEIJING (AP) — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves:

Tesla has secured approval from regulators to sell its Model 3 cars in Europe, in a move that will bring it in direct competition with the likes of BMW, Volkswagen and Peugeot in their home market. Dutch vehicle authority RDW approved Tesla's request to sell the most affordable of its electric cars on Monday, meaning that British customers can order the car from next month. Production of right hand driving vehicles, the standard in the UK, is not due to start until mid 2019. The announcement comes days after chief executive Elon Musk issued a letter to all of his employees, describing 2018 as "the most challenging in Tesla's history". In the same letter, Musk said he had "no choice" but to reduce full time employee headcount by 7pc and retain only the most critical temps and contractors. "There isn't any other way," he said. Workers will now focus on producing a cheaper version of the Model 3 in an attempt to boost sales. Shipments of Model 3 vehicles to Europe and Asia are expected to generate a profit for the company in future, Musk said. Tesla's Model 3 is currently priced at over $35,000 (£27,200), has a range of 220 miles and a top speed of 130 mph. The model first went on sale at the end of 2018. Tesla was forced to push back its production targets last year when it failed to hit the 5,000 vehicle a week target by the end of 2017.

US federal workers who are not getting paid during the longest government shutdown in the country's history are increasingly turning to pawnbrokers for short-term loans, according to shop owners. The turnout is small – a few people per day – pawnbrokers said, but many expect the numbers to increase amid the stalemate. About 800,000 federal workers have missed a paycheck during the nearly month-long shutdown.

Carlos Ghosn awaits his fate as a Tokyo court prepares to rule on his bail request after the ousted Nissan boss vowed to remain in Japan if released and offered to provide more collateral. "As the court considers my bail application, I want to emphasise that I will reside in Japan and respect any and all bail conditions the Court concludes are warranted," Ghosn said in a statement released by his US-based representatives. A spokeswoman for Ghosn, Devon Spurgeon, said his family had already rented an apartment in Tokyo where he promised to reside while awaiting trial.

Star gazers from Los Angeles to New York will keep their eyes on the sky for the eclipse, known as a super blood wolf moon, expected to appear at 11:41 p.m. EST. Although it is a total eclipse, the moon will never go completely dark but rather take on a coppery red glow - called a blood moon. It is also a full moon that is especially close to Earth, called a supermoon.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Monday claimed responsibility for a series of airstrikes on Iranian military targets in Syria, drifting further away from its longstanding policy of playing down or covering up its military activities in the war-torn country.

China's population grew at a slower rate last year despite the abolition of the one-child policy, official data showed Monday, raising fears an ageing society will pile further pressure on an already slowing economy. There were 15.23 million live births in 2018, a drop of two million from the year before, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. With 9.93 million deaths, this led to a growth rate of 3.81 per thousand in 2018, a dip from 5.32 per thousand the previous year. NBS commissioner Ning Jize said population growth had peaked, but said the country still had huge potential. "China's labour participation rate is not considered low worldwide, more than 700 million of our 900 million people (of working age) are employed, and there is still room (for growth)," he said. Signs of China's falling population growth had emerged when data released by some local authorities indicated a significant drop in births last year. In Qingdao, a city in eastern Shandong province - one of China's most populous regions - births between January and November decreased by 21 percent to just over 81,000 compared to the previous year. Top 10 | Largest countries by population Still, China's total population rose by 5.3 million in 2018 to 1.395 billion people, retaining its title as the world's most populous nation. China for decades limited most families to one child - often enforcing this policy through hefty financial penalties - in a bid to control population growth. This was relaxed in 2016 when couples were allowed two children in response to concerns about an ageing society and shrinking workforce. China's workforce - those aged between 16 and 59 - was 897.3 million last year, a 4.7 million drop from 2017, NBS data showed. The workforce is on track to decline by as much as 23 percent by 2050.

The pound recovered ground Monday after British Prime Minister Theresa May said she plans to return to Brussels to discuss changes to the Brexit deal she agreed with EU leaders last month despite an overwhelming rejection of the draft text by MPs last week. There was mixed news out of China, with official data showing the country's economic growth at its slowest pace in 28 years offsetting a report that the country has offered to eliminate its massive trade surplus with the United States -- easing trade war tensions between the world's two biggest economies. "Unless the British PM intends to commit political suicide, an extension request is the most likely scenario and the EU will most probably agree, which should be a positive development that will take the pound towards $1.30 again," predicted Konstantinos Anthis, Head of Research at ADSS.

In a morning Twitter storm, Trump also said he would not seek the removal of millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States, while bashing House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for turning down an offer he made on Saturday, including for Dreamers, the immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children. "No, Amnesty is not a part of my offer. It is a 3-year extension of DACA.

Donald Trump has again confused weather with climate change, suggesting the US would benefit from “a little of that good old fashioned Global Warming right now” amid forecasts of snow and cold conditions. Large parts of the Country are suffering from tremendous amounts of snow and near record setting cold. In November, Mr Trump conflated seasonal weather with climate change, suggesting chilly conditions meant global warming wasn’t real.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon used an Arab economic summit on Sunday to call for the return of Syrian refugees to safe areas of their war-torn country, where the nearly eight-year civil war is still underway despite a recent series of government victories.

In Binged, Mashable breaks down why we binge-watch, how we binge-watch, and what it does to us. Because binge-watching is the new normal.
* * *
Binge-watching is basically an endurance sport, so you need to be sure you're prepared. After all, if you're going to watch You until your eyes fall out (recommended), why not make the experience as pleasant as possible?
That means paying close attention to the conditions under which you watch: the couch, the temperature, the vibe, and (most importantly) the snacks.
Some hot tips:
## 1\. Assemble your snacks before the binge-watch begins
To truly maximize your experience, I recommend selecting one salty snack, one sweet snack, and one wild-card snack. Some suggestions from my colleagues, whose tastes range from great to truly horrifying:
* Takis
* Sno-Caps in popcorn
* Uncrustables
* Plain Lay's chips and Greek yogurt
* Chocolate-covered pretzels
* Trader Joe's olive oil popcorn
* Literally a ham-and-cheese sandwich dipped in orange juice (cursed)
* Celery and peanut butter
* Peanut butter straight from the jar
Note: you can always sub in pizza for any category (or all three).
## 2\. Keep no less than three beverages in front of you at all times
One of the beverages should be water. For the other two, I like to choose a large, gulp-able beverage -- like Gatorade or, if I am feeling brave, seltzer -- as well as a fancy, small beverage, like a blood orange San Pellegrino or one of those high-end lemonades with cursive lettering on the bottle.
SEE ALSO: Watching your favorite TV show a million times isn't compulsive. It's a comfort binge.
## 3\. Get up every hour to stretch
You don't have to do a full yoga class, but it's nice to remind your body that it is, in fact, capable of movement.
> Netflix: are you still watching?
> Me: pic.twitter.com/yUbJ6KjVct
>
> -- sara reinis (@SaraReinis) March 7, 2018
## 4\. Consider the two-blanket approach
I have radiators in my apartment and do not control my own heat, which means that sometimes my living room is 1,000 degrees. This is too hot. If I open the window, though (see #7), it becomes too cold. That's why I prefer to have two blankets near me when I binge-watch: one thick blanket for the cold times and one thinner cotton blanket for the medium times. During the hot times, I use no blanket at all.
## 5\. Consider your spinal column
If you need to bring a bed pillow onto the couch for back support, so be it. If you're binge-watching in bed, consider acquiring a backrest pillow. Maybe one ... with a cupholder?
## 6\. If you're watching a show featuring heavy subject matter, take more breaks
While there is certainly no shame in binge-watching, it can have adverse effects on your mental health -- especially if the show you choose deals with emotionally fraught topics. In these cases, treat yourself to a few more breaks than you normally would. We're not saying go outside (imagine!), but maybe do a few more stretches, check in with your friends, and drink some extra water.
## 7\. Open a window
Let your binge-watching farts (different than regular farts) fly freely into the atmosphere.
## 8\. Text people about what you're watching
If you do not have a binge-watching partner literally sitting next to you, it can be fun to live-text the show with a fellow binge-watcher in another location. It also reminds you that you have friends. Crucial!
What you should not do, however, is send texts about the show to someone who has not seen the whole show yet. Avoid committing this friendship crime at all costs.
> When Netflix freezes to ask if you're still watching and you see yourself reflected in the screen pic.twitter.com/tDdSSN6PR5
>
> -- Philip Ellis (@Philip_Ellis) February 16, 2018
## 9\. Switch positions
When you have a nest, you have a nest, so switching rooms isn't necessary. But alternating between sitting up and lying down, or even just lying down on the other end of the couch, can be kinda nice. After all, lying down in a second location is a fun twist on lying down.
## 10\. Respect the air
If you've chosen some really good snacks (and also haven't left the couch for six hours), the room can start to smell a little ... rank. That's when it's time to light a candle.
On the off-chance Gilmore Girls is your binge-watch, there is a Gilmore Girls candle designed to burn in tandem with the 2016 revival. There are also Stranger Things-themed candles. Or you could just burn a regular one. It's your binge-watch, after all!
## WATCH: Netflix is raising its prices
##

Anastasia Vashukevich, the model who recorded a former employer of Paul Manafort allegedly discussing US relations with a Russian deputy prime minister during the 2016 election, has promised in a Moscow court not to release any further recordings. Ms Vashukevich previously claimed to have evidence of Russian interference in the US election from a fling with Oleg Deripaska, the metals magnate to whom Donald Trump's campaign manager Manafort reportedly promised private briefings, something Deripaska always denied. Video she uploaded to Instagram showed Mr Deripaska speaking on a yacht in 2016 with Sergei Prikhodko, a deputy prime minister and long-time aide to Vladimir Putin. In a separate audio recording, Mr Deripaska is heard discussing Russia's “bad relations with America”. The pair talked about the “issue with America,” Ms Vashukevich had claimed. After her Instagram posts were discovered in February 2018, Ms Vashukevich was arrested while leading a sex training seminar in Thailand, and Mr Deripaska successfully sued Ms Vashukevich for violating his right to privacy with her photographs and recordings. A Russian court ordered her to delete the posts and pay him £5,800 in emotional damages. She and her partner from the sex training received a suspended sentence for soliciting and conspiracy last week and deported to Belarus, their native country. On her way there, they were arrested in a Moscow airport on Thursday. They face prostitution charges carrying up to six years in prison. After being led by bailiffs into a glass defendant's cage on Saturday, Ms Vashukevich asked Mr Deripaska's forgiveness and promised no more revelations. Ms Vashukevich was deported by Thailand and arrested at Moscow airport Credit: Vasily Maximov/AFP “There won't be any more audio recordings about Oleg Deripaska,” she told journalists from a glass defendant's cage. “I won't compromise him anymore, so he can relax, really, I've had enough." She claimed that she was now subject to "fabricated" criminal cases in Thailand, Russia and Belarus. Ms Vashukevich declined to comment when asked by The Telegraph if the prostitution charges against her were related to claims of Russian election interference. The court delayed a hearing on her confinement until Tuesday after investigators said they didn't have enough evidence to make their arguments. Mr Deripaska has denied interference and said he never received an offer of private briefings. He is under US sanctions, but sanctions against some of his companies are set to be lifted this week despite controversy in congress. Mr Deripaska is seen speaking to Mr Prikhodko in footage posted by Ms Vashukevich Credit: Instagram The meeting on the yacht took place in August 2016 off the coast of Norway, according to an investigation by opposition activist Alexei Navalny. A private jet linked to Mr Deripaska had flown between New York and Moscow and then to Norway in the previous days, Mr Navalny found. Manafort, who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and agreed to cooperate with Robert Mueller's investigation into election interference, told a Russian acquaintance he could offer private briefings to Mr Deripaska the month before, according to emails seen by The Atlantic and other publications. Russia ordered YouTube to take down Mr Navalny's video investigation, but it is still available and has more than 8 million views. While in jail in Thailand, Ms Vashukevich claimed to have more than 16 hours of audio recordings and photographs providing evidence of Russian interference in the US election. She promised to provide the evidence if the United States gave her asylum. Miss Vashukevich in detention in Thailand Credit: JORGE SILVA/REUTERS Ms Vashukevich told CNN she witnessed Mr Deripaska meeting three Americans in 2016 and 2017 and said “they had a plan for the election”. She said she had photographs of one of the Americans with Mr Deripaska, but refused to name any of the men. CNN also reported FBI agents had unsuccessfully tried to see her in Thailand.

France's data watchdog on Monday announced a fine of 50 million euros ($57 million) for US search giant Google, using the EU's strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the first time. Google was handed the record fine from the CNIL regulator for failing to provide transparent and easily accessible information on its data consent policies, a statement said. The CNIL said Google made it too difficult for users to understand and manage preferences on how their personal information is used, in particular with regards to targeted advertising.

ProSiebenSat.1 Media believes that price increases by U.S. streaming giant Netflix could ease competitive pressures on the German group's core TV business and is bullish on growth at its e-commerce arm, CEO Max Conze said. Conze took the helm at the Munich-based broadcaster last June but has had a rough welcome from investors who have sent its shares to seven-year lows on doubts that he can revive its ailing free-to-air TV business. The former CEO of UK appliances company Dyson told Reuters that plans to relaunch a German streaming venture in cooperation with Discovery Inc, public broadcaster ZDF, publisher Axel Springer and possibly others were on track for late summer.

The Weather Service issued winter storm warnings or advisories for a swath of the eastern United States that is home to 100 million people, said meteorologist Rich Otto of the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. The storm system, which was moving from west to east and was strengthened by arctic air from Canada, hit many parts of the Midwest on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. In Chicago, where some neighborhoods received 8 inches (20 cm) of snow, a third of flights were canceled at the city's two main airports, said Mark Duell, vice president of operations for tracking firm FlightAware.

Arab states at an economic summit in Lebanon on Sunday urged world powers to step up efforts to enable refugees, particularly Syrians, to return home and to ease the burden on host countries. The fourth annual Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, held in the Lebanese capital Beirut, was marred by the glaring absence of most Arab heads of state. The refugee issue had been high on the summit's agenda at the request of Lebanon, which has been inundated with refugees since the start of the Syrian war 2011.

The Duke of Edinburgh could be sent on a drivers’ awareness course, it has emerged, as police continue to investigate a crash which left two women hospitalised. The Duke, 97, is understood to have no intention of giving up driving, having been photographed on public roads driving a new car less than 48 hours after the accident. He is understood to be complying with a Norfolk Police investigation, which will see him interviewed about what happened. Two women, aged 45 and 28, will also be asked for their recollections of the accident, after their Kia Carens collided with the Duke’s Land Rover Freelander on the A149 on Thursday. Both police and palace have emphasised that the investigation will be conducted in the same way as any other traffic accident, despite one of the involved parties being married to the Queen. That process would see him interviewed in the coming days, before police officers recommend whether to proceed with charging anyone involved. The scene of the crash, on the A149 at Sandringham The Duke has already passed an eye test as part of the investigation, celebrating by defiantly driving himself around the public roads near to Sandringham alone less than 48 hours after the accident. He was caught on camera driving in dark glasses without wearing a seatbelt, in a gesture that has been criticised by onlookers. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “We are aware of the photograph. “Suitable words of advice have been given to the driver and this is in line with our standard response when being made aware of or receiving such images showing this type of offence.” The law states that drivers can be fined up to £500 if caught without a seatbelt. The Duke of Edinburgh drives the Queen and Barack and Michelle Obama during their visit to Windsor Credit: Geoff Pugh If the Duke was found to be at fault for the Sandringham accident, he could be charged with driving without due care and attention, which carries a maximum penalty of nine points on a driving record and a £5,000 fine. It is thought unlikely that a prosecution would come to court. A police source said yesterday that non-royal drivers involved in a similar collision would more likely be offered a drivers’ awareness course, with improving their motoring skills considered more in the public interest than a court case. The Duke reportedly said "I'm such a fool" after being pulled from his wrecked Land Rover Freelander on Thursday after it flipped on its side following the collision with a Kia close to Sandringham. Witnesses claim he had told police at the scene he had been “dazzled” by the low sun at 2.45pm. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “As is standard procedure with injury collisions, the incident will be investigated and any appropriate action taken.”

We don't get many slow weeks when it comes to Netflix releases, but this week certainly counts. With just ten shows and movies on the docket (nine of which are Netflix originals), there's a decent chance that nothing here will really stand out for you. Personally, I will be delving into the final six episodes of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as soon as they go live, since it's one of the two or three best sitcoms on the service.
If you're a fan of serial killers (well, not a fan, but you know what I mean), Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes should be on your radar as well. And all I now about Polar is that it features Mad Mikkelsen with an eye patch, so I'll probably check it out. And hey, at least nothing is leaving the streaming service this week!
Here is the complete list of the Netflix arrivals and departures for the week of January 20th, 2019:
## Arrivals
### Monday, January 21st
* Justice-- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
### Thursday, January 24th
* Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes-- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
* Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
### Friday, January 25th
* Animas-- NETFLIX FILM
* Black Earth Rising-- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
* Club de Cuervos: Season 4-- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
* Kingdom-- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
* Medici: The Magnificent-- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
* Polar-- NETFLIX FILM
* Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 4 Part 2-- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
* * *
## Departures
### None
* Nothing is leaving Netflix!
We'll be back next week with another full slate of shows, movies, and specials coming and going from the streaming service. In the meantime, check out the complete lists of arriving content and departing content.

The heir to Saudi Arabia’s monarchy, widely known as MBS, has so far largely dodged any reprisals against himself, with President Donald Trump opting in November to impose sanctions against 17 lower-level Saudis implicated in the murder following global outrage. “We have to deal with bad people, but we don’t have to have special relationships with bad people,” Graham told Bloomberg News.

When Starbucks came to China two decades ago it promised to open a new store every 15 hours. Now a homegrown rival, Luckin Coffee, plans to build a high tech-driven shop every three and a half hours to dethrone the US giant. The Chinese upstart is burning through millions of dollars to lure customers with steep discounts, challenging Starbucks' dominance by targeting office workers and students who prefer to have their java on-the-go or delivered to their doorstep.

Central Athens turned into a sea of people holding blue and white Greek flags as thousands came from all over the country to rally against the accord to name the ex-Yugoslav state North Macedonia. Many Greeks believe the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim over their country's own northern region of that name. The issue evokes strong emotions among Greeks who consider Macedonia, the ancient kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great, to be an integral part of their homeland and heritage.

This dish comes from chef Luke Holder, who runs Hartnett Holder & Co with me at Lime Wood hotel in Hampshire. The flatbread lid on the bream dish is not something to be nervous about trying. It’s just flour and water, the most basic form of bread you could make. There’s no yeast in it, so you don’t have to let it rise: just add rock salt, olive oil and rosemary. SERVES Two to four INGREDIENTS For the flatbread lid 125g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 75ml water 5g salt A little chopped rosemary mixed with coarse salt, for scattering For the fish 2 sea bream fillets 4 large basil leaves, torn Dash of olive oil 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 150g tomato passata 50g dried porcini mushrooms 200g clams, in their shells 150ml white wine METHOD Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/Gas 7. First, make the flatbread by mixing the flour with the water and salt until a dough forms. Set aside. Lightly season both fillets of bream and place the basil on the flesh side of one fillet. Place the other on top so the flesh sides are together, and use a few toothpicks to hold them in place. Set aside. Add a dash of olive oil to a large ovenproof dish, pan or casserole, ideally with handles. Throw in the garlic and heat for a couple of minutes to release the flavour. Take it off the heat and add the tomato passata, dried mushrooms, clams and white wine. Carefully place the fish on top. If you feel it needs a tad more liquid, add a dash of water. Roll out the bread dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1cm. Place this carefully over the dish to form a lid, pressing it to seal around the edges and pulling it tight to feed through the handles. Wrap it around the handles to create a sort of knot. Brush with olive oil and bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Two minutes before the end of cooking, brush again with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and rosemary before returning to the oven. Remove the dish from the oven and allow to rest for three minutes before serving. Use a serrated knife to cut open the pastry lid and remove the fish. Cut the lid into four pieces. Place a piece on each plate, with the fish and sauce from the dish on top. Angela Hartnett's one-pot wonders

Draw an X. I'll wait.
Now, how did you go about it? The left stroke first, downward, then the right, or the right stroke first, upward? Turns out there are multiple ways.
SEE ALSO: Everyone's taking their anger out on Sasuke in this hilarious new meme
The question of how folks instinctively draw an X has gone viral, thanks to a thread by Twitter user @SMASEY. It's divided Twitter in a way we haven't seen since the whole Yanny/Laurel debate of 2018.
"Which way do you draw an X?" she asked, presenting eight possibilities, each showing a different colour for the first stroke and arrows indicating the direction of the strokes.
> Also this is so interesting to me - which way do you draw an X? Colored line being the first stroke pic.twitter.com/a0WTl8WT7P
>
> -- sixers smasey (@SMASEY) January 20, 2019
Some people were confident in their answer, others less so. Many, like myself, weren't even really aware there were multiple ways to draw an X -- for the record, I'm a seven.
> 5!
>
> There are other ways? https://t.co/2P1ibE2tLZ
>
> -- Hannah Wilks (@newballsplease) January 20, 2019
> 5️⃣
>
> Why would I finish opposite to where my pen needs to go next? https://t.co/FRFdAmnBYy
>
> -- Steve Curtis (@curtisteve) January 20, 2019
> Is there anyone who doesn't do a 7/8? https://t.co/FUaYYzsgwv
>
> -- Ngonidzashe (@Ngonijay95) January 20, 2019
> 8.
>
> People who draw bottom to top are also the ones that put their toilet paper on the holder the wrong way.
>
> -- Eddie (@NinjaJenssen) January 20, 2019
> Depending on if you're right or left handed it should be 7 or 8. What kind of sick person draws an X any other way https://t.co/tBqkafRUD5
>
> -- Aokiji クザン (@DukeOfZamunda) January 20, 2019
> me realising there are other ways to draw an 'x'
>
> -- Shego (@LadyBellatrix) January 20, 2019
> sat here testing myself pic.twitter.com/3B9RQETgSC
>
> -- ً (@bcfchxrry) January 20, 2019
Which way do you X?
## WATCH: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is giving Twitter classes to fellow Democrats

(Bloomberg) -- Theresa May is preparing to set out where Brexit goes next after the overwhelming rejection of her deal a week ago. She’s due to present a plan to Parliament on Monday, where members are already working on plans to take control of the process.